Hit a deer

[PoPPeR]

Yeah I know I possibly could have avoided it. Thank the lord I was already driving slower than the speed limit because of the rain. I went around a bend @ about 25 when speed limit was 30, my lights didn't pick up on the deer until it was too late. Very minimal damage. Left end of front grill is dented a little bit, left headlight is pushed in. Deer was fine, got up and ran away. No blood on my car or on the street.

1) What category does this type on incident fall under

2) Should I (or do I have to) report this to my insurance? I understand I'd have to pay the deductible, but being a 19 year old male, I'm sure the insurance companies look for any excuse to qualify me as an unsafe driver (this is my first type of collision, ticket, etc.)

 

[DeadByDawn]

Was the deer insured? Were you ticketed?

 

[vi edit]

If it's simply cosmetic, and it's an older car, I'd just pay out of pocket or not worry about it at all.

People hit deer all the time. That in itself won't raise your rate for being wreckless. What will raise it is if the insurance company has to pay out on a claim.

 

[Yossarian]

the deer's insurance should cover it. you got its info right?

 

[HardcoreRobot]

The deer should not have fled the scene of the accident... Considering you didnt get his information and the police didnt show up and make a report, I wouldnt even talk to the insurance company.

 

[Reel]

What is the deductible and what is the cost to fix it? If you need the insurance to pick up the difference, report it. Otherwise, I don't think there is a need unless your state has laws different than mine.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
Yeah I know I possibly could have avoided it. Thank the lord I was already driving slower than the speed limit because of the rain. I went around a bend @ about 25 when speed limit was 30, my lights didn't pick up on the deer until it was too late. Very minimal damage. Left end of front grill is dented a little bit, left headlight is pushed in. Deer was fine, got up and ran away. No blood on my car or on the street.

1) What category does this type on incident fall under

2) Should I (or do I have to) report this to my insurance? I understand I'd have to pay the deductible, but being a 19 year old male, I'm sure the insurance companies look for any excuse to qualify me as an unsafe driver (this is my first type of collision, ticket, etc.)

it's under "no-fault". you should not be penalized for it.

and you shouldn't really try to avoid hitting the deer per say and cause yourself a fatal injury. how many times have you heard of people trying to avoid a chipmunk and schmucking themselves up? i mean there are just some things that are unavoidable.

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: Yossarian
the deer's insurance should cover it. you got its info right?

yes but the phone # i called was disconnected. I think I got played

anyways, yeah it's an older car, I need to ask my parents about all the deductible costs and whatnot, was just looking for some basic information. Thank you

 

[vi edit]

and you shouldn't really try to avoid hitting the deer per say and cause yourself a fatal injury. how many times have you heard of people trying to avoid a chipmunk and schmucking themselves up? i mean there are just some things that are unavoidable.

A deer is a bit different than a chipmunk. It's obviously a judgement call based on the exact circumstances surrounding the situation, but a 200 pound deer flying through a windshield IS NOT fun.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Nothing runs like a Deere.

 

[DaiShan]

Glad you are both alright! Last night I was driving back to my parents place at about 11pm and along the interstate there were about 10 deer. It was really cool because no one else was on the road, there was almost no light pollution, and the moon was a little over half full so they were illuminated by the moonlight. I wish I could have gotten a picture of that.

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
Yeah I know I possibly could have avoided it. Thank the lord I was already driving slower than the speed limit because of the rain. I went around a bend @ about 25 when speed limit was 30, my lights didn't pick up on the deer until it was too late. Very minimal damage. Left end of front grill is dented a little bit, left headlight is pushed in. Deer was fine, got up and ran away. No blood on my car or on the street.

1) What category does this type on incident fall under

2) Should I (or do I have to) report this to my insurance? I understand I'd have to pay the deductible, but being a 19 year old male, I'm sure the insurance companies look for any excuse to qualify me as an unsafe driver (this is my first type of collision, ticket, etc.)

it's under "no-fault". you should not be penalized for it.

and you shouldn't really try to avoid hitting the deer per say and cause yourself a fatal injury. how many times have you heard of people trying to avoid a chipmunk and schmucking themselves up? i mean there are just some things that are unavoidable.

yeah I didn't try to avoid it, the place was like in a forest type area and if I had swerved I'm sure I would be much worse off right now than a dented front grill.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

and you shouldn't really try to avoid hitting the deer per say and cause yourself a fatal injury. how many times have you heard of people trying to avoid a chipmunk and schmucking themselves up? i mean there are just some things that are unavoidable.

A deer is a bit different than a chipmunk. It's obviously a judgement call based on the exact circumstances surrounding the situation, but a 200 pound deer flying through a windshield IS NOT fun.

no kidding. i wasn't implying he steer for the deer, but he shouldn't hit a tree to avoid the deer.

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

and you shouldn't really try to avoid hitting the deer per say and cause yourself a fatal injury. how many times have you heard of people trying to avoid a chipmunk and schmucking themselves up? i mean there are just some things that are unavoidable.

A deer is a bit different than a chipmunk. It's obviously a judgement call based on the exact circumstances surrounding the situation, but a 200 pound deer flying through a windshield IS NOT fun.

just out of curiosity, how fast would I probably have to have been going for the deer to come through my windshield? I know angles and stuff probably matter, but just base figure?

 

[imported_FishTaco]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
Yeah I know I possibly could have avoided it. Thank the lord I was already driving slower than the speed limit because of the rain. I went around a bend @ about 25 when speed limit was 30, my lights didn't pick up on the deer until it was too late. Very minimal damage. Left end of front grill is dented a little bit, left headlight is pushed in. Deer was fine, got up and ran away. No blood on my car or on the street.

1) What category does this type on incident fall under

2) Should I (or do I have to) report this to my insurance? I understand I'd have to pay the deductible, but being a 19 year old male, I'm sure the insurance companies look for any excuse to qualify me as an unsafe driver (this is my first type of collision, ticket, etc.)

it's under "no-fault". you should not be penalized for it.

and you shouldn't really try to avoid hitting the deer per say and cause yourself a fatal injury. how many times have you heard of people trying to avoid a chipmunk and schmucking themselves up? i mean there are just some things that are unavoidable.

But then you have to worry about the deer's family pressing charges since you didn't try to avoid the accident. Unless it's deer hunting season and you have a permit, then you wouldn't have to worry about being sued by a family of grieving deer (deers?).

 

[vi edit]

just out of curiosity, how fast would I probably have to have been going for the deer to come through my windshield? I know angles and stuff probably matter, but just base figure?

I couldn't begin to guess. Speed, height of car, whether or not the deer jumps, angle hit, ect. Too many variables to really say where that magic number lies.

 

[Kobota]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

just out of curiosity, how fast would I probably have to have been going for the deer to come through my windshield? I know angles and stuff probably matter, but just base figure?

I couldn't begin to guess. Speed, height of car, whether or not the deer jumps, angle hit, ect. Too many variables to really say where that magic number lies.

indeed, i hit one at about 90 and it didn't go through my windshield

 

[rahvin]

The deer may or may not have been ok, just because it got up and ran away doesn't mean it was fine. I've shot deer and had them get up and run away and they definately weren't fine.

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: rahvin
The deer may or may not have been ok, just because it got up and ran away doesn't mean it was fine. I've shot deer and had them get up and run away and they definately weren't fine.

ah, well i wasn't going to go chasing after it to make sure it was ok. i hope its still alive, but still... damn deer

 

[Colt45]

What do you drive?

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
Was the deer insured? Were you ticketed?

Originally posted by: Yossarian
the deer's insurance should cover it. you got its info right?

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
The deer should not have fled the scene of the accident... Considering you didnt get his information and the police didnt show up and make a report, I wouldnt even talk to the insurance company.

you guys are the best. :laugh:

 

[DeMeo]

You should have chased the deer and finished it off. The meat would have covered the cost for any damages incurred.

 

[iversonyin]

:evil:

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: Colt45
What do you drive?

1991 Lexus LS400

 

[b0mbrman]

Originally posted by: rahvin
The deer may or may not have been ok, just because it got up and ran away doesn't mean it was fine. I've shot deer and had them get up and run away and they definately weren't fine.

Oh, ha ha.

When I first started reading your response, I thought you were gonna talk about emotional pain or something